Millington Police are investigating a shooting accident Tuesday evening at USA Stadium, where an eight-year-old boy shot his mother.PHOTO:WREG, courtesy

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West TN Child Accidentally Shoots His Mother

By West Kentucky Star Staff

MILLINGTON - A woman is in critical condition after her 8-year-old son accidentally shot her while at a baseball game Tuesday night.

WREG reports that according to Millington Police, the child found the gun in a bag inside of an antique WWII vehicle that was on display at the Millington USA Stadium. The child and his mother were attending a UT-Martin vs University of Memphis Baseball game at the stadium.

"The juvenile believed it was a toy gun. He picked the gun up, pulled the trigger and accidentally shot his mother. It was an accident, pure and simple," said Millington Police Chief Mark Dunbar.

The mother was rushed to a Memphis hospital, listed in critical condition.

Dunbar also said, "Charges are possible. We will confer with the Attorney General's Office after we complete our investigation."

Police are hoping the investigation will answer why the weapon was left in the car, why it wasn't secured, and why it was allowed to get into the hands of a child.

Instead of going after the owner of the firearm with torches and pitchforks; let's ask the question of why this 8 yr old felt he had the right to dig into a bag that was in someone else's vehicle and grab ahold of other's property. He's not a toddler, but 8 yrs old and should have been taught to keep his mitts off stuff that's not his especially a gun.

He needs to be made an example of. SECURE YOUR WEAPONS FOLKS! COMMON SENSE!!! ~~~~ Police charged the owner of the gun, Charles McFarland, 76, with reckless endangerment with a deadly weapon.
Police are hoping the investigation will answer why the weapon was left in the car, why it wasn't secured and why it was allowed to get into tiny and inexperienced hands.
"Secure your weapons. If you got a weapon, everybody's got a right to carry if they've got a permit. But you need to use common sense about securing your weapons," Dunbar said.